Description:
Important Two-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Exceptional Incised Floral Decoration, Stamped "J. REMMEY / MANHATTAN-WELLS / NEW-YORK," circa 1805, ovoid jar with tooled shoulder and tall collar, decorated on the reverse with a large incised plant with large leaves, culminating in a daisy-like blossom with fan-shaped offshoot. Heavily-incised shading to petals of flower. Rare and visually-appealing use of alternating cobalt-decorated and undecorated sections to flower. This same treatment can be found on the central flower of a Henry Remmey, Baltimore pitcher with elaborate incised design, sold in Crocker Farm, Inc's, May, 2007 auction. Reverse impressed with cobalt-highlighted maker's mark of John Remmey III. Heavy cobalt highlights to handle. Despite its obvious condition issues, this jar is one of the finest decorated examples of signed Remmey stoneware from Manhattan we have seen, and an important object in attributing unsigned work. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, recently found in Virginia. In need of restoration. Both handles missing, including a hole in jar at one handle terminal. Hole in underside. Heavy base and rim chipping. Large, wide U-shaped crack indicates to entire front of jar may have been reglued to remainder of body. Jagged spider crack on front. H 12 1/2".